(19)

(11)

EP 1 567 059 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 31.08.2005 Bulletin 2005/35 (21) Application number: 03787051.6 (22) Date of filing: 19.11.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 6/04 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/037471 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/047645 (10.06.2004 Gazette 2004/24)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 25.11.2002 JP 2002340807 (71) Applicant: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC Wisconsin 53188 (US)	(72) Inventor: IZUHARA, Akira Hino-shi,Tokyo 191-8503 (JP) (74) Representative: Goode, Ian Roy  London Patent Operation, General Electric International Inc., 15 John Adam Street London WC2N 6LU London WC2N 6LU (GB)